Wednesday, December 16, 2009

How to Set Up a Business in the UK

Setting up a business in a new location or a new country are effective ways of ensuring optimum business growth. For instance, you can set up a business in UK by starting a new company, opening a branch of an existing company, or by purchasing a ready made company. In the first two cases, you need to register your company with the registrar of the Companies House. The Companies House is the official agency in the UK that oversees the formalities of new company formations. Ready made companies are existent, already registered companies.

While deciding to set up a business in UK, you might be confused about selecting a company name or understanding the rules of registration. You can get your doubts clarified through the information manual of the Companies House. The manual is available online as well as in paper format. With proper awareness about the company formation rules, you can set up a business in UK quite easily.

Set Up a Business in UK: Tips
When you set up a business in UK, be sure to follow these steps:
  • First, choose a name for your company. Remember that names with words, such as ‘national’ or ‘country,’ requires special permission from the Secretary of State. Also, names that signify authority or the government, such as ‘federation’ or ‘society,’ must also be avoided.
  • You must submit the registration form, along with the fee, to the Registrar of the Companies House within a month of setting up your business. When you are opening a branch of your existing company in the UK, you must certify your documents from the country of origin. You also need to submit a copy of the most recent audited accounts.
  • In case you are setting up a new company in the UK, you must appoint directors and a secretary for your company.
  • Mail the documents and registration fee to the Registrar of Companies House. If you have any problems in understanding the rules, you can contact the registrar to get them clarified.
Seeking the professional assistance of company registration agents is the best way to set up a business in UK. An agent well-equipped to handle your company incorporation needs, while assisting you in understanding the rules of company set up is Company Formations 24.7. The agent provides you quick company registration services in the UK, and also helps you in finding a suitable company name and office location and the appointment of directors and secretaries.

Tips on How to Register a Company

The basic step in beginning or enhancing your business is to register a company. To achieve this, you must obtain necessary permission and approval from the concerned authorities of a country. For instance, in the UK, approval from the Companies House, the authorising agency for company registration, is a must to register your company.

For any business to be registered in the UK, it is essential that some kind of business activities take place. However, for getting the proprietary rights of your company, you also need to register a trademark after the company registration.

Register a Company: Things to Know
To register a company for optimal benefits, be aware of the following:
  • Avoid making common mistakes, such as confusing between various types of companies. For instance, sometimes it might be hard to distinguish between private company limited by guarantees and private company limited by shares. If an error happens, it might cost you heavily.
  • Choose the name of your company very carefully. The name should be able to reflect the nature of your business and help create a strong brand.
  • Before registering your company, decide the exact nature of your business. Your tax liability, registration process and regulatory approvals are based on the nature and structure of your business.
Steps to Register a Company
To register a company in the UK, you have to decide an office location. The next step is to nominate a company director and company secretary. Once this is done, you can provide this information to your company formation agent who will take care of the rest. These days, online registration process has simplified the process of company registration.

Keep yourself updated on the latest legislations related to company formation. For instance, some of the provisions of the 2006 Act related to company and business names did not come into force at the time of its initial enforcement. Instead, they came into force on October 01, 2009.

Due to the complex formalities involved in company registration, it is advisable that you seek professional help. These professional agents are well-equipped to ensure that the registration process passes seamlessly. Company Formations 24.7 is an agent offering specialised services in each step of company formation. With its quick and reliable online process, this agent works as a one stop shop for all your company and business registration and incorporation needs. Visit the website today and get unbelievable discounts and offers!

Naming a Business

While naming a business, you should consider several factors such as the longevity of the business, registration requirements and the global reach. A well-chosen name also ensures the creation of unique brand identity for your company.

Naming a Business for Longevity
It is a good idea to choose a company name that mirrors the current nature of your business. However, rapid advancements in technology make it imperative for business owners to be ready for a change in the nature of their business. So, choose a name with terms like ‘general,’ that widens the company scope to include other domains and fields of expertise.

Naming a Business for Fast Registration
There are designated regulating government agencies in every country that are responsible for registering the names of companies. For instance, to register a company name in the UK, you must follow the criteria laid down by the Companies House and the Intellectual Property Office.
  • The Companies House: The Companies House prescribes rules for naming a business, which you must adhere to. Do not include words that signify a government agency or institution, in the name of your company. For instance, words such as institution, national, international and government should be avoided. Check the index of registered company names with the Companies House to ensure that the chosen name is not already taken or prohibited from use.
  • The Intellectual Property Office: This agency maintains a record of all registered trademarks. You can check the register to see if your chosen name conflicts with any existing trademarks. This approach ensures that your proposed company name is not rejected by the Companies House during the later stages of the registration process.
Naming a Business for Global Reach
All entrepreneurs wish to have a global reach for their business at some stage in their business and growth. With that in mind, it is advisable that entrepreneurs choose a name that does not have any derogatory meaning in some other language. Although it seems a difficult task to do, by being aware of this fact, you can avoid problems.

You can save yourself from a lot of name search related problems if you take help from one of the company formation agents. Company Formations 24.7 is a well known agent who has made a mark in the industry by providing assistance to many entrepreneurs in establishing successful businesses in the UK.